A fire destroyed the home of a Special Olympics coach and manager in Bucks County.
The fire started at George Massimini’s home on Rockview Drive in Bristol Township Friday afternoon. Firefighters were able to bring the flames under control. While no one was injured in the blaze, Massimini’s items inside were destroyed.
"The only thing I saved at that point was, I went in and got my cellphone and my wallet," Massimini said.
Massimini, a Vietnam veteran, has coached athletes in the Special Olympics since 1980 and currently runs the Bucks County Special Olympics program.
"This is how devoted he is," Carol Piccari, the mother of a Special Olympics athlete who Massimini coached, told NBC10. "He was at Bocce practice at 10 in the morning on Saturday and his house burned down the night before."
Massimini told NBC10 he has no insurance to cover the loss. He is currently staying at his bishop's house as he figures out what to do next.
"What do you do? I could cry and get upset about it," he said. "But why? It doesn't really help and life still goes on."
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"Do I let it hold me back and shut me down or do I still remember I still have responsibilities for other people?"
Despite his loss, Massimini remains devoted to his work and helping others.
"If I stop then they don't get the opportunities," he said. "So I gotta keep going."
Piccari told NBC10 she plans on helping to organize a fundraiser for Massimini. For information, please email cap376@comcast.net or call 215-378-5833.
